Cancer community connects at conference

Cancer survivor Susan Zuker said she learns something new every year she attends the Art of Living: Life Beyond Cancer Conference.

“I meet the best people who get it… wherever they are on the journey to fight cancer you learn so much from each and every one of them,” said Zuker, who has attended each of the seven conferences presented by the Friends of Mel Foundation.

Zuker, who is a Natick resident, said she was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and again in 2014.

“I am one of the lucky ones and I feel like every year that I am there as a survivor, I count my blessings,” she said.

Zuker said she enjoyed the keynote speakers the most at this year’s conference, held Saturday, Oc. 28 at Lombardo’s in Randolph. In the morning, she said she was able to learn from Dr. William Kaelin Jr. about the scientific point of view and the advancements in the treatment of cancer. Zuker said there was hope in his message, as he spoke about how costs have come down for cancer research and the cutting edge technology that is improving the outlook for the cancer community.

She also enjoyed learning the personal point of view from the keynote speaker, former WCVB anchor and reporter Kelley Tuthill, who Zuker was able to relate with on her stories of being a survivor.

“Both of them added so much dimension to this conference,” Zuker said of Kaelin and Tuthill.

Zuker has also been an exhibitor at each of Life Beyond Cancer conferences, where she is able to share information on the coalition she and her family founded.

“This cancer community isn’t something people choose to be a part of, but it is filled with amazing people from all walks of life who get it and understand what it’s like,” said Zuker.

Zuker’s sons and she founded Conquer Cancer Coalition 14 years ago after the passing of her husband.

They sponsor Conquer Cancer license plates and they built a Cancer Garden of Hope in Boston City Plaza. They also started Painter Without Borders, where her son, who is an artist, paints in the chemo and radiation waiting rooms of Mass General and Boston Medical Center.

Zuker said she has developed a friendship with Friends of Mel Foundation’s Executive Director, Pauline Alighieri, through the cancer conference.

Alighieri describes this year’s conference as the best ever.

She said she has received many emails from attendees thanking her for the conference and praising the keynote speakers and all that they learned from them.

More than 225 people, mainly survivors, but also caregivers and professionals in the cancer community, attended the seventh annual conference.

Alighieri said there was a lot of excitement and positive energy, with a mix on new and familiar faces.

Alighieri said she was intrigued by Kaelin’s slide presentation, which she said gave people hope.

“It was really interesting to see and this was what people commented on how hopeful they felt after they saw his presentation,” said Alighieri.

Alighieri also noted the importance of Tuthill’s presence at the conference.

“The biggest gift she brings to the event is that she is a 10-year survivor,” said Alighieri. “A lot of the people sitting in the audience are experiencing that diagnosis and are in treatment… something she did 10 years ago. Her life is full, her hair is all grown back… if she can do it so can’t I.”

Feedback from those attending spoke of how much they appreciate the opportunity to meet and talk with people who have had the same experience.

“It’s just connecting people, giving people information so they can make their own decisions about how they want to recover and heal,” said Alighieri.

The exercise program, as well as the spirituality and healing and mindfulness workshops were some of the most popular features this year, based on the feedback.

“On a scale of a 1-10 it was a home run,” said Alighieri. “There was something there for everyone.”

With the decrease of the number of workshops this year, Alighieri said it gave attendees the opportunity to walk around the bookshop and meet the authors.

After all the hard work and planning for this year’s conference, Alighieri said she was thrilled to see the turn out.

“When I get there and feel the energy and the gratitude and excitement that the people have…it seems like we are doing the right thing,” said Alighieri.

“It’s people like Pauline, it’s organizations like Friends of Mel, that make a huge difference for those of us that struggle with (cancer) that want to learn more about it and feel like we are not alone,” said Zuker.

For more information about The Friends of Mel Foundation visit: www.friendsofmel.org.